Bonsai tools

City_balcony_gardener

Hi all, I'm looking to buy some good bonsai tree tools for my husband's birthday. Can anyone recommend a good store in London or online? Thanks

Lizzie27

Burford Garden company have some really nice ones but you are probably too late to have them delivered by post now.

cmarkr

Stainless steel or Japanese carbon steel are the best quality - carbon steel holds a sharper edge for longer but needs more maintenance including cleaning after each session, stainless steel isn't as hard but more robust to a bit of water left on the blade.

Some well regarded suppliers are

 Greenwood https://www.bonsai.co.uk/

 Kaizen Bonsai https://www.kaizenbonsai.com/

British bonsai https://www.britishbonsai.co.uk/

Do you know which tools you're looking to buy?

BenCotto

I thought this article was helpful

https://wazakurajapan.com/blogs/news/bonsai-tools-for-beginners-3-things-you-need-to-know

City_balcony_gardener

Thank you all so much! Will research these links, really appreciate it.

City_balcony_gardener

cmarkr said:

Stainless steel or Japanese carbon steel are the best quality - carbon steel holds a sharper edge for longer but needs more maintenance including cleaning after each session, stainless steel isn't as hard but more robust to a bit of water left on the blade.

Some well regarded suppliers are

 Greenwood https://www.bonsai.co.uk/

 Kaizen Bonsai https://www.kaizenbonsai.com/

British bonsai https://www.britishbonsai.co.uk/

Do you know which tools you're looking to buy?

He's only started trying with Bonsai recently so an introductory tool kit.

Athelas

Also have a look at Niwaki — their shop in London (38 Chiltern Street) is open until Christmas eve 

https://www.niwaki.com/bonsai/

https://www.niwaki.com/chiltern/

cmarkr

City_balcony_gardener said:

cmarkr said:

Stainless steel or Japanese carbon steel are the best quality - carbon steel holds a sharper edge for longer but needs more maintenance including cleaning after each session, stainless steel isn't as hard but more robust to a bit of water left on the blade.

Some well regarded suppliers are

 Greenwood https://www.bonsai.co.uk/

 Kaizen Bonsai https://www.kaizenbonsai.com/

British bonsai https://www.britishbonsai.co.uk/

Do you know which tools you're looking to buy?

He's only started trying with Bonsai recently so an introductory tool kit.

Take a read of Peter Chan's guide or jump straight to the video at the bottom of the page.
https://www.herons.co.uk/MobileProductList.php?CatType=SubCat&CatID=981

Herons is also a well established bonsai retailer.

Bonsai wire cutters (cheap are fine but you want bonsai ones not electrical ones because they cut to the edge for removing wire from branches) and scissors/sheers are probably the first tools to get in my opinion then knob cutters which can cut larger branches off neatly at the trunk. Other gift ideas include bonsai wire and cheap pots and bonsai substrate (e.g. from Kaizen).

City_balcony_gardener

Athelas said:

Also have a look at Niwaki — their shop in London (38 Chiltern Street) is open until Christmas eve 

https://www.niwaki.com/bonsai/

https://www.niwaki.com/chiltern/

This is great to know! Thank you

City_balcony_gardener

cmarkr said:

City_balcony_gardener said:

cmarkr said:

Stainless steel or Japanese carbon steel are the best quality - carbon steel holds a sharper edge for longer but needs more maintenance including cleaning after each session, stainless steel isn't as hard but more robust to a bit of water left on the blade.

Some well regarded suppliers are

 Greenwood https://www.bonsai.co.uk/

 Kaizen Bonsai https://www.kaizenbonsai.com/

British bonsai https://www.britishbonsai.co.uk/

Do you know which tools you're looking to buy?

He's only started trying with Bonsai recently so an introductory tool kit.

Take a read of Peter Chan's guide or jump straight to the video at the bottom of the page.
https://www.herons.co.uk/MobileProductList.php?CatType=SubCat&CatID=981

Herons is also a well established bonsai retailer.

Bonsai wire cutters (cheap are fine but you want bonsai ones not electrical ones because they cut to the edge for removing wire from branches) and scissors/sheers are probably the first tools to get in my opinion then knob cutters which can cut larger branches off neatly at the trunk. Other gift ideas include bonsai wire and cheap pots and bonsai substrate (e.g. from Kaizen).

Thank you so much for all your advice, I'm gonna get some bits from Kaizen